Electric



(N0 Modl.)

R, M. HUNTER.

ELECTRIC 8IGNAL. I N0. 257,948. Patented May 16, 1882,

N. Pz'mm Pfiqmum n har, Washington D. c

general, but more particularly to signals for tele- I D STATES PATENT AOFFICE.

RUDOLPHlVIQHUNTEEOF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA",

ELECTRICESIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION. forming, part of Letters rate No. 257,948, dated May re,1882. Application filed Octoher ls, 1881. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern: y Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, ofthe city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Signals, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to electricsignals in phonic purposes; and itconsists in a contactwheel having a single contact-point in itscireumference, combined with an eleeti-o-magnet adapted to rotate saidcontact-wheel step by step, and a device to complete alocalcircuitthrough the contact-point on said contact: wheel, saidlocalcircuitbeingeircuited through the signal hell or alarm further, in anelec-- tro magnet or magnetsadaptedto rotate. a contact circle orfwheelstep by step, and at the ending of each of said. movementscompleting alocal circuit through a coil or helix to mag-' netize a core, sa-id corebeing arranged to attract an armature or retarding device adapted toclose asecond contact and complete a local circuit throughthe electricbell; further, ina

contact-lever combined with aretardingdevice adapted to descend slowlybut raise quickly further, in combining two helices and twoarmaturesrwith three circuits, one of which is circuitedthrough the mainline or an auxiliary relay, another of which is circuited through thelocalbatteryand one armature, and the remaining onebeing circuitedthrough the local battery, electric bell, and theot-her armatureand,finally, in many detailsof construction, all of which are fully setforth in the following specification and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, which form part thereof.

The object of this invention is to provide a signalin g device at eachstation on a telephoneline to enable the operator to signal any stationdesired. The object is, further, to dispense with a central station andto enable signaling to be carried on over a single wire over which anelectric current of uniform strength is passing, and thereby dispensewith variable battery-power.

1n the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of myimproved electricsignaling device. Fig. 2 is a section of one form of double electro-magnet, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofa modified form of myimproved device. .A is the bed-plate, upon which is secured ,theline-wire.

the upright post B, carrying the supportingpiece (J, which is secured inplace by the nut D. This pieceO supports and ca'rriesthe'electro-magnetcoils E and. F, in the center of which is located the iron core Gr. Partof the ,wire'ofcoil E may extend up around the upper partofthe core G,as shown at E in Fig.

2, and, ifdesired, the core maybe made in two "parts, insulated fromeach other, so that the ,lowerpart might be magnetized withoutchang I'ing the upper part; but- I prefer' the former construction, as shown inFig. 2. The ends of ibobbin or helix E'are connected with the bind .ingposts S S whichreccive thetwo ends of One end of bobbin or helix F :isconnected to binding-post S, which receives local-circuit wire, f,connected with one pole of local battery Z. y y M Pivoted to the post Bat his the armature H, the end of which is provided with a springfinger, H, adapted to mesh with a ratchet- "wheel, 0, secured to andinsulated from a shaft, N, carrying the contact-wheel M, furnished witha single contact, m,connectingthe speriphery with the shaft N. Thearmature H may be adjusted by the thumb-screw h and,

spring h and is provided with a contact, I, *preferablymade of a spring.An ordinary adjusting-spring may be used, if desired, to withdraw thearmature H quickly away from the magnet E; but itis not absolutelyrequired in the construction shown in Fig. 1, as gravity performs thatfunction. I

The piece 0 carries the insulating-bushing K over the contact-spring Ion armature H,

said bushing carrying a metallic nut, L, through which the contactserewJ passes, and inwhich itis adjusted. The nut or metallic bushing L isconnected to the other end of the bobbin or helix F. If desired, thepiece 0 may be made of insulating material and the bushings dispensedwith. The other pole of battery Z is connected through binding-post Swith the armature H, thereby completiu g the local circuit through thehelix F.

The shaft N is pivoted between setscrews- R Q Q, carried by frame P. Aspring-tooth, R, presses against the ratchet-wheel O, to prevent itsmoving unless positively rotated by the armature H. A pointer, 19,secured to the frame P, indicates the signaling-point. One pole ofbattery Z is connected with one bind- IOO ing-post on the electric bellY, the other binding-post being connected with the frame 1? and contactat through the binding-post S The other pole of battery Z is connectedwith 5 the armature-lever T, pivoted to the post B at t through post B.The lever T is provided with contact adjustable screw T at a point abovethe center of the contact-wheel M. The end of the lever T is secured toa rod, U, carrying a plunger or piston, V, on its lower end, which worksin a glass or metallic cylinder, W, provided with the enlarged diameter10. The rod U is guided through the cap or cover X, and is serewthreaded and furnished with an adjustable nut, U, between which and thecap is a spring, V, which tends to keep the lever up and free of thecontact-wheel M. The spring may be arranged in any other desirablemanner, if desired. The cylinder W contains glycerine or other liquid;or mercury may be used, in which latter case an iron piston, V,

' would be used, and in all cases this piston almost fits the cylinderatits smallest diameter,

but is much smaller than the large part of the cylinder.

If desired, the wire connecting the upper part of post B with battery Zmay be dispensed with, as its function would be per formed by wiresecured to binding-post S.

This device would work without the use of the upper helix, F, but not sopositively or in a such a satisfactory manner.

' The operation is as follows: The operator at one station works his keyuntil the number on contact circle or wheel M indicating the station heis desirous of signaling is in front of the pointer 11. Now, if he workshis key quickly, the leverT could not descend to complete the localcircuit through the alarm,as .0 the magnet operating said lever wouldnot have received its full power until at the end of each stroke of thekey, when thearmature H completes the local circuit through said-magnet, and time would be required before 4 5 the piston V coulddescend in the small part of cylinder W, and force the liquid above it.Every oscillation or movement of the armature H closes the local circuitthrough the magnet I, Upon opening the key or breaking contact thespring V forces the lever quickly hack to its original position, as theenlarge- ,rnent w in the cylinder offers no resistance to the upwardmovement of the piston V, and as the piston entersthe enlarged diameterthe liquid quickly runs under the piston into the small diameter.Therefore by this device there is. considerable resistance to thedownward movement of the piston, but none to its upward movement. Now,if the operator keeps 6o hislkey closed, the local circuit through thecoil. F will have been completed and will have time to pull the lever Tdown, operating the alarm or. signal bell, as it then has time toovercome the resistance offered by the piston and small cylinder. Thetime and power required to operate this retarding device may beregulated by the adjustment of the spring circuited helix to complete alocal circuit through the alarm-bell, two local circuits, and

V and piston andby the diameter of the small and large parts of thecylinder W.

Having now described my invention, what I 7 claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric call or signal, an electromagnetic core and means toma gnetize and demagnetize it with the line-circuit, in combination withtwo armatures arranged one at each end or pole of said core, one ofwhich armatures is provided with rotating devices and the other withcircuit-closing devices, and a contact-wheel having a conducting-pointon its periphery, one of said armatures operating to intermittentlyrotate said contact-wheel an the other of said armatures operatingto-close a local circuit through said contact-wheel.

2. In an electric call or signal, two electric coils or helices, meansto actuate or electrify one of them by the line-circuit and the other bya local circuit, in combination with an alarm-bell, a local battery, twolocal circuits, a contact-wheel, an armature actuated by one of saidvhelices to intermittently rotate said contact-wheel and complete atevery stroke one of the local circuits through the other helix, and anarmature operated by said helix in the local circuit to close the otherlocal circuit through the alarm-bell.

3. In an electric signal, two electric coils or helices, means in theline-circuit to control the passage of electricity through one of saidhelices, a contact-wheel, and an armature to rotate said contact-wheel,and provided with means to close a local circuit through the other ofsaid helices at every stroke, in combination with a second armatureactuated by the locala retarding device to preventthe latter of saidarmatures descending too rapidly to close the alarm-circuit.

4. In an electric signal, the combination of no two electric coils orhelices, a line-circuit through one of said coils and a local circuitthrough the other of said coils, and mechanism arranged to complete thelocal circuit through one coil upon acurrent being passed through theother coil, with mechanism, substantially as described, to complete asingle local alarmcircuit, said mechanism being operated and controlledby both of said helices jointly, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

5. In an electric signal, two helices, two armatures, a contact-wheel,an alarm, and three circuits, one of which is the main-line and iscircuited through one of said helices, the second alocal circuit throughthe other helix, and the third a local circuit through the alarm, incombination with mechanism to close both the first and second of saidcircuits at every stroke of the key or closing of the line-circuit, andmeans to close the third of said circuits through the alarm upon holdingsaid first and second circuits closed.

6. In an electric signal, the combination of core G, helix EE, of twodiameters, armature H, with its spring-finger H, contact-wheel M, andarmature T, independent of armature H, provided with contact-screw T,substantially as'and for the purpose specified.

7. In an electric signal, the combination of core Gr, helix E E,armature H, with'its springfinger H, contact-wheel M, armature T,provided with contact-screw T, and a retarding device to prevent thearmature T(said core Gr being the common attraction 'for both of saidarmatures H and T) from falling quickly.

8. A retarding device for electric signals, which consists of a cylinderhaving the small diameter W and large diameter to, in combi- 'nationwith a piston or plunger, V, adapted to vertical movement, a spring, V,or its equivalent, to hold said piston above or at the top of said smalldiameter of the cylinder, an armatare-lever attached to said plunger andprovided with acontact to complete a local circuit which is independentof the electro-magnet which actuates said armature, and an electromagnetto actuate said armature-lever and and a contact-screw, J, said armatureoperating to complete a local circuit through helix F, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

10. In an electric signal, the combination of helices E and F, core G,common to both of said helices, armature H, provided with springfingerH, means, substantially as described, to complete a circuit throughhelix F every time a current is passed through helix E, contactwheel M,armature T, provided with contactscrew T and contact-screw J, in circuitwith helix F, substantially as and for the purpose specified. V

11. In an electric signal, a retarding device which consists of a vesselhaving two diameters, the smaller being at the bottom, and a plunger orpiston which before action is above the small diameter and in the largediameter, so as to leave a clear passage-way for the liquid from abovethe piston to below the same after it has been fully raised, incombination with an alarm-circuit, a contact to close said alarm-circuitand controlled by said plunger and its operating electro-magnet, and anelectro-magnet to actuate said plunger and force it down into the smalldiameter, substantially as set forth.

' In testimony ofwhich' invention I hereunto set my hand.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

J OHN W. STEWARD, R. A. GAVIN.

